Protest HP shop London

[LifeMakesMyFaceAche]

Today I was in London and I walked past the brand-new Harry Potter shop in Oxford Street. I could see lots of families heading towards the shop. There was also about 16 protesters outside the shop.

I’ve seen lots protests in London and other cities over the years but this really really upset me especially as it involved families and children. Just going to do something nice in London.

The thing that upset me the most was that you could tell there was some tweens looking a bit upset who were clearly dressed in Harry Potter accessories but reluctant to join the queue I noticed more than one in tears with a parent. There was one poor police officer to monitor it, and even though there was only 16 pro testers they seemed very very loud and very, very intimidating.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5596430-transphobic-christmas-lights

I’m sorry op, they’re very tedious and I understand how that might have upset children. They’ll get bored eventually.

Urgh. They’re so ridiculous. Their ideology is dying on its arse and they look ever more desperate. It’s a shame they upset some of the fans who wanted to visit the shop. Hopefully parents were able to reassure those children and teens that they were doing absolutely nothing wrong!

I hope they police the lights switch on better than that.

They’re absolutely pathetic.

If children are old enough to understand HP books they are old enough to understand that some people are very upset & disappointed that the author doesn't live by the moral values of her books.

Whilst such circumstances can be confronting for children they are also a great learning opportunities to teach them how consistency in words & actions matter.

It's been a while since I read the books but I must have missed that lying about biological reality is a moral value in the HP books.

That is the idea of a protest, to be loud & objectionable

I got caught up in a protest by animal rights at Portsmouth harbour in the summer, it was loud and for people travelling on foot there was nowhere to get away from them

by Staying in the queue you are showing that there protesting isn’t working

@Igneococcus I recently rewatched all the Harry Potter films and must have missed that part too

@thegoodnews I’d argue that standing up for women's rights, privacy and safeguarding is entirely consistent with the values of the books.

On the other hand, I can imagine Death Eaters clubbing foxes to death for their own amusement so Jolyon would fit in there nicely.

16 protesters for a city the size of London isn't very many, it's almost like most people don't care as much as TRAs want us to believe.

It’s so tiresome.
Every time a trans activist shouts another Harry Potter book is sold.

Many fans have interpreted the books as a universal allegory for accepting marginalised outsiders so they understand her generalisations & demonisation of trans people as a betrayal. The overarching narrative of Harry Potter appears to champion the oppressed and celebrate difference, condemns prejudice particularly through the concept of "blood purity" and the dehumanising rhetoric of the Death Eaters which is in opposition to her actions.

Beatings will continue until morale improves, eh?

Its shit, OP.

As grown adults, we can understand that some addled and inadequate people can be very misguided, and it just looks absurd. But that they are upsetting kids is awful.

I also recognise one of those protectors as a professional protestor with a history of.violence.

I hope the police etc maintain good security. These people are even more unhinged than they seem, tbh.

Ah yes, those poor oppressed trans people who managed to change laws all around the world and scare people into self-censoring for fear of loosing jobs and friends, very oppressed indeed.
If you find any clear examples of "generalisation&demonisation" from JKR you just bagged yourself £1M.

Who is saying that interpretation is correct?

Rowling totally lives by the principles she writes, standing up for what is right even when it makes you unpopular. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.".
Not so much these little toads. Scaring innocent kids is not appropriate whatever you think of their favourite author. Go protest at the filming of the Strike books or something, at least that's adults. Or if you must protest HP make it a silent and non threatening one.

JKR has absolutely stood by the values in her books. She has persisted in telling the truth about how people cannot change sex in the face of significant backlash and vilification, much like Harry does when telling people that Voldemort is back. Hope that helps.

Oh yes, the Death Eaters. The joy-sucking, supremacist, aggressive bullies that want to compel everyone to their ideology. I'd say they're entirely consistent with JKR's later recognition of trans supremacist tactics.

Standing up for what is right is in the books.
Like the right for women to play fair sports , see a doctor who is the sane sex as them, visit a rape conselling service that is single sex, not have to get changed at work while male colleagues watch...

Funding a massive international charity involved in housing vulnerable children fits the morals of the books too.

JKR's words speak for themselves in that she clearly states she views trans people as a danger to women. If you don't understand how generalisations or stereotypes work then perhaps her books might help.

She has stated no such thing @thegoodnews . Are you going to provide a source?

Is there a style guide that TRAs use or is it always the same TRA?

@thegoodnews you know the books are fiction don’t you?